What’s Left of the 2025 NASCAR Silly Season?

Like it always does, the NASCAR silly season is making its usual rotation of musical race cars once again for the incoming 2025 racing year.

After months of contract signings, promotions and extensions, no one would blame you if your head were still spinning from constant news being broken throughout the year, nor would they blame you for not remembering what deals have yet to be made.

But fret not; Frontstretch has you covered. Here’s a guide as to what rides remain up for grabs for the 2025 season as of Dec. 12.

Read all of Frontstretch‘s content looking back on 2024 here

NASCAR Cup Series

It seems nearly all of the NASCAR Cup Series full-time rides are taken up. However, there are still a couple of entries, whether they will exist next year or not, that remain to be claimed by a wheelman.

With a lawsuit-sized elephant still in the room, it’s a little fuzzy as to where the closing Stewart-Haas Racing’s relinquished charters will end up for both the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports teams still seeking them.

While 23XI has announced its third car will be driven by former NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Riley Herbst, Front Row Motorsports also has announced hopes to expand into three teams despite its current lack of a third charter pending future court rulings. However, the driver of that supposed third entry remains a mystery.

It is heavily predicted by many that Zane Smith, who is also coming off his first full-time Cup season, will be joining the team to fill the possible third entry after being released from Trackhouse Racing and Spire Motorsports.

Things are even less sure at fellow Ford Cup team Rick Ware Racing. RWR has leased one of its charters to RFK Racing, leaving the team only one charter to race full time.

Corey LaJoie, who was traded to RWR near the end of 2024 to finish the remaining races in the No. 51, seems to be the most likely candidate to fill RWR’s full-time role.

However, with the return of Cody Ware, team owner Rick Ware’s son, mid-season this year, it remains possible the chartered entry will be rewarded to the 29-year-old.

Additionally, the team has not yet announced whether the charter will be used for the No. 51 or its No. 15 entry. Consequently, the possibility of a second, part- or even full-time, open team being fielded is also real. This year, the team had the likes of Kaz Grala, Herbst and Ware fill that role. Of those, Herbst is the only driver out of the running.

Speaking of part-time entries, there are a few unchartered teams that have announced plans to race next year as well. However, only BJ McLeod and Jimmie Johnson have announced their intentions to fill their respective driving roles at Live Fast Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club, respectively.

Additionally, the No. 50 Team AmeriVet has announced its bid to enter a part-time schedule in 2025, but it has not announced if Jeb Burton, who piloted the team’s car at the season finale at Phoenix Raceway this year, will return for additional entries; Ty Dillon, its other driver last year, is spoken for at Kaulig Racing. It has not yet announced what events they intend to enter.

Someone who has confirmed he will be attempting to enter in the Great American Race along with other races across all three of NASCAR’s top series next year is full-time retiree Martin Truex Jr. The 2017 series champion has not made it known what team it will be with but has told media it is supposed to be done with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks has also revealed possible entries for the team’s Project 91 entry, the same that fielded Shane van Gisbergen when he won his shocking Cup victory at the Chicago street course in 2023, are on the table in 2025.

Richard Childress Racing will continue to enter the No. 33 part time, and though it’s not announced its drivers, it will further likely be piloted by the team’s NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Austin Hill in some events. As for any Australian Supercar special entries, such as the ones with Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki in the last two years, they will likely be announced before road course events, if any at all, with Brown currently looking to put together a two-race run.

MBM Motorsports will run at least the Daytona 500, but its driver has not been announced, nor have plans for the No. 66 past the season opener. However, MBM has posted images of their shop complete with a freshly wrapped car with 2024 part-time driver Chad Finchum on the windshield.

Our off-season projects include a transporter refresh! New hauler wrap and lights being installed soon. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/jAkFQ9ZM68

— MBM Motorsports (@MBMMotorsports) December 9, 2024

While Beard Motorsports has also not announced a schedule for 2025, it seems likely that the team will continue its superspeedway-only schedule it has maintained since 2017. And NY Racing Team has not yet indicated its plans for 2025 after a 10-race run in 2024.

In 2024, Kaulig fielded its third car, the No. 13, in a part-time schedule. Though the team certainly has plenty of possibilities (a three-driver Xfinity operation) to fill the seat next year, it hasn’t announced if it plans to bring the extra car back.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Author’s note: Only full-time entries are referenced except in rare circumstances.

Among the top rides still seemingly up for grabs in the Xfinity Series field is the JR Motorsports No. 9 entry. In the past, JRM has left its No. 88 entry open for part-time drivers. However, with Connor Zilisch fulfilling that car full-time next year, it is possible this role could move to the No. 9 team.

Another top team with entries still open for next year is this year’s team owner’s championship runners-up Joe Gibbs Racing. Regarding two of JGR entries, the Nos. 20 and 81, no official statement has been made on either of the teams’ plans, though it’s likely one of them has been renumbered to Taylor Gray‘s No. 54 for his rookie season. It is expected that after their performances in 2024, Aric Almirola and Ryan Truex could make a return for the team in some capacity along with other usual JGR Cup regulars.

For fellow Toyota-aligned team Sam Hunt Racing, the No. 26 entry could remain a shared ride among multiple drivers like it was in 2024, but no lineup has been announced. However, the driver list on its website still lists NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Corey Heim, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Sage Karam, Ed Jones and Dean Thompson, all of whom were part of SHR’s lineup in 2024 (though were not the organization’s only competitors that year).

RSS Racing could continue to field brothers Kyle Sieg and Ryan Sieg full time next year as it did in 2024 (at least for Ryan; Kyle entered all but one event). However, the No. 29 Ford has yet to be claimed by a driver. With Blaine Perkins moving away from the team to Jordan Anderson Racing next year, the only remaining driver to have made starts for the team this year is CJ McLaughlin. Additionally, the No. 38, previously an RSS-only entry, appears to be back up for grabs in 2025, as Viking Motorsports has announced a number change to the No. 99.

DGM Racing has announced Ryan Ellis will enter a new number for the team, the No. 71, full time next year. The team has not yet announced if it will enter two cars next year nor what number the second entry will be. In 2024, it fielded the Nos. 91 and 92 full time. Neither Josh Bilicki nor Kyle Weatherman, the team’s primary drivers in 2024, have announced plans for next year, meaning a DGM return could be in the cards.

Speaking of Ellis, he departed Alpha Prime Racing for the new DGM role. His old APR ride, the No. 43, hasn’t had a driver announced for 2025, nor has APR revealed if the car will return at all.

SS-Green Light Racing, which fielded the Nos. 07 and 14 in 2024, has not revealed any plans for next year, though the team has remained active on social media, which implies a likely return.

Young’s Motorsports fielded the No. 42 full time in 2024 for Leland Honeyman, though the organization has not announced its status for 2025 — whether that’s in the Xfinity Series or the Truck Series.

Joey Gase Motorsports has announced it’ll be back in 2025, this time under the name Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen after the addition of Osteen, the owner of 2024 Truck team Floridian Motorsports, to its ownership. Its Nos. 35 and 53 will be back, but its drivers haven’t been revealed (though team namesake Joey Gase is certainly a shoo-in, barring a surprise retirement).

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Author’s note: Only full-time entries are referenced except in rare circumstances.

While many Truck teams remain unannounced for 2025, among the top rides still unreserved for next year is the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet, as its former driver Nick Sanchez moves on to the Xfinity Series next year.

Considering its hire of Sanchez came from its ARCA Menards Series program, it is possible Rev is considering 2024 ARCA Menards Series champion and Rev prospect Andres Perez as Sanchez’s replacement.

Over at Spire Motorsports, the No. 7 was shared among multiple drivers the last two years, but no specifics for the truck in 2025 have been revealed.

Chase Purdy, however, may not be returning to the team, or any NASCAR racing at all, in 2025. No word on what then happens to Spire’s No. 77.

.@chasepurdy12 seemingly out of a ride for 2025 (via u/SoupMadeFreshDaily) https://t.co/u1Z6fuyL6z #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Pg6gQQvnC2

— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit) December 9, 2024

ThorSport Racing has not made any official announcements regarding its lineup for 2025, though it’s difficult to imagine the team getting rid of defending champion Ty Majeski, past champion Ben Rhodes or even series legend Matt Crafton, despite the latter having turned 48 this year (would Crafton really retire without a farewell season at least?). Jake Garcia‘s status with the No. 13 is less clear simply from a tenure perspective, though there’s been no indication whether he or any of the ThorSport drivers would be on their way out.

At TRICON Garage, the No. 1 Toyota still remains up for grabs in 2025 and will likely remain for part-time drivers as well as regulars from other series (though one of its drivers in 2024, Toni Breidinger, won’t be back given her move to the team’s No. 5 full time). A similar situation at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing; the No. 91, which sported multiple drivers in 2024, has not announced any drivers for next year.

Niece Motorsports has one entry left open with its No. 41 Silverado. Bayley Currey drove the truck for all but one race in 2024, moving to the No. 44 for the other event. He hasn’t announced any plans for the year, so it’s possible the ride could be his again.

Reaume Brothers Racing has not announced its plans for its No. 22 entry, which sported nine different drivers in 2024. Neither Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 nor Timmy Hill’s No. 56 have officially confirmed their plans to return to the series next year, either.

Rackley WAR has announced Dawson Sutton as the driver of the No. 26 full time in 2025. As the No. 26 was the team’s part-time truck previously, it’s not yet known if the full-time No. 25 is being renumbered or if the organization still has announcements to be made.

The aforementioned Young’s, much like its Xfinity program, hasn’t revealed a plan for its Truck team in 2025 either. The No. 02 was the lone full-time entry (it also fielded the No. 20 and occasionally the No. 46 after Faction46 shut down) in 2024, mostly driven by Mason Massey before others filled in to end the season.